Honors and Awards

The Capezio Ballet Makers Dance Foundation honors former American Ballet Theatre principal Cynthia Gregory as the 63rd winner of

Gregory, left, with NBT dancers

the Capezio Dance Award. The leggy ballerina (six feet tall on pointe and nicknamed “The Body” during her time at ABT) danced in more than 80 works, but is perhaps best known for her interpretation of Odette/Odile in Swan Lake. In 1991, after her 26-year career with ABT, Gregory became board chairman of Career Transition For Dancers, a nonprofit offering support to former dancers as they embark on second careers. Gregory currently serves as artistic coach for Nevada Ballet Theatre.

Villella, right, coaching PNB dancers

Edward Villella(DT, January 2013) receives the lifetime achievement award from the Italian International Dance Festival in New York City. Villella (who is of Italian descent) was a principal with New York City Ballet before founding Miami City Ballet in 1985. He directed MCB until 2012.

The Martha Hill Dance Fund honors dance educators Mary Hinkson and Martha Myers for lifetime achievement and John-Mario Sevilla(DT, January 2014) with the mid-career award. Hinkson was a principal with the Martha Graham Dance Company; she later taught at the Martha Graham School and The Juilliard School. Myers founded Connecticut College’s dance department in 1971 and was dean of the American Dance Festival for more than 30 years. Sevilla, who danced with Pilobolus, is director of the 92nd Street Y’s Harkness Dance Center. The fund exists to honor Martha Hill, founder of three dance degree programs: New York University, Bennington College and Juilliard.

Photos from top: by Alicia Lee, courtesy of NBT; by Lindsay Thomas, courtesy of PNB